Electromagnetic valve



Patented June 8. 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTROMAGNETIC VALVE.

Application led January 28, 1924. Serial N o. 688,954.

This invention relates to a valve whereby the flow of liquids or gases through a conduit may be regulated, and especially to an Electro-magnetic actuating mechanism there- A number of crude oil burners have come into general use in the last few years which are automatically actuated through a thermostat' or like device, this being particularly true Iwhere the burners are employed in connection with heating plants, etc., for instance, in apartment houses, dwellings andv otherwise.

'Ihe oil delivery to burners of this character is usually automatically controlled by an electro-magnetically-actuated-valve, that is, a circuit is automatically closed through the electro-magnet by means of a thermostat or like device and the oil valve lopened-when the temperature in the dwelling drops below a predetermined low temperature, and the circuit is conversely broken by the thermostat and the oil valve closed when a predetermined high temperature is reached. The circuit through the electro-magnet is continuous as long as the valve is open and a circuit is often maintained in a closed condition for several hours, particularly when starting and during cold weather. The coils of the electro-magnets have a tendency to overheat during such conditions, causing fire hazards by burning of the insulation, etc., and will otherwise cause trouble by renderin the mechanism or system inoperable.

Tllectro-magnetic valves have for this reason given considerable trouble and are not only objected to by the Board of Fire Underwriters, but are otherwise objected to as'they are not dependable in service.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of electro-magnetic actuating `valves of the character described, and especially to provide means for cooling the coils of the electro-magnets while a circuit is closed therethrough by circulating the Aoil or fluidhandled through or around the coils, thus carrying away the heat as rapidly as it is generated and, as a consequence, entirely ehminating the fire hazard and operating troubles.

One form which my t invention may assume is exemphed in the following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig.- l is a central vertical longitudinal section of the valve. F Fig 2v is a cross-section on line 2 2,

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. l, A indicates a valve housing constructed on the general lines of a standard form of globe valve, the housing being provided with an inlet connection 2 and a discharge connection 3. The upper end of the ho-using is extended as shown at 4 and is provided with a circular disk-shaped flange 5 on which is supported a solenoid magnet generally indicated at B. Formed centrally of the disk-shaped :flange 5 is an annular upwardly extending llange 6. This flange is interiorly threaded as at 7 and a tube 8 constructed of brass or other nonmagnetic material is secured thereby. The upper end of the tube is closed by a screw plug 9, while the lower end is substantially closed by the disk-shaped flange 5. This flange is, however, centrally perforated to form a guide for a valve stem 10, the lower end of which terminates in a point 11 which is adapted to engage a seat 12 formed interior of the valve casing. This seat is formed in a central partition 13 which divides the valve casing into a receiving chamber 14 and a discharge chamber 15.

Slidably mounted in the tube 8 and guided thereby is a core or armature member 16 to which the valve stem 10 is secured. The armature and the stem are provided with a central passage 17 which terminates in a discharge opening 18 at the lower end; this discharge opening being in constant communication with the receiving chamber 14. The valve is otherwise surrounded by a magnet coil 19 which is supported between insulating members or disks 20, the entire coil. being in turn enclosed by an exterior tube or housing 21 and acap or cover 22 which is secured to the screw plug 19 by means of a cap screw 23. This cover is provided with a wire conduit 24 through which theA Wires enter, the wires being in turn connected with the coil 21 in the usual manner.

In actual practice it will be understood that the valve is mounted in the fuel line of an oil burner or the like, and that the' purpose of the valve is that of automatically closing off the fuel flow when a predeterv mined hightemperature is reached, and conversely opening the valve to permit the fuel to flow to the burner when a predetermined low temperature is reached; this being accomplished as previously stated by employvcircuit remains closed for any 17 through which it flows trouble with valves of this character is overheating of the same, particularly when the length of time. This feature has been entirely overcome in the present structure as the incoming oil entering'through the connection 2 passes upwardly through a passage 25. It then enters the lower end of the tube 8 and as the core 16 is hexagonal or square in shape a plurality of exterior passages will be formed through which the oil will rise `between the tube and the core. The oil then passes through a series of cross-slotsv formed in the upper end of the core as indicated at 26 and will thus enter the central passage downwardly to the discharge opening 18. The oil here enters the receivin chamber 14 and if the valve is open, it wi l pass through the valve passage and enter the discharge chamber 15 from where it will dischargethrough the outlet 3 and thus flow to the burner.

The oil by being circulated in the manner shown -maintains the entire electric unit in a cool condition as any heatv generated h the coil is absorbed by the metal parts, suc as the central tube 8 and the core 16, but as the oil flows around and through these memy bers, it can readil be seen that the heat will tion regardless of the length of time that be absorbed .by t eoil and as such carried away as rapidly as generated. The electromagnet is t us maintalned in a cool condithe current may be passing through the same and lire hazard and other trubles'are in this manner entirely eliminated.

It may furthermore be stated lthat a heavier core 'may be employed than is usually the case, which is a great advantage as 1t is the weight of the core that insures seating of the valve. In some instances thecore 1s so seat and a' certam amount-of oil will thus continuously leak through the valve. This can be avoided in the present instance as cooling of the unit as a whole by the circulation oi the oil permits a larger current hght that thevalve will not properly low through the coil and consequently the use of a larger and heavier core. This in crease in the weight insures proper seating of the valve and leakage is thus also avoided.

lVhile a rat-her specific method 'of oil circulation is here illustrated, it is obvious that this may be changed `without departing from the spirit of the invention, and while oil yhas here been specified, it is obvious that gases and other liquids may similarly be handled.

lVhile certain features of the present invention are more or less specifically illustrated, l wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims. I similarly wish it nderstood that the materials and iinish of t e several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by`Letters Patent iS:-

1. The combination with a iuid conduit and a valve mounted therein of an electromagnet mounted on the valve and adapted to open and lclose the same said magnet embodying a coil and a core and means for circulating the core in twcf substantially opposite directhe fluid through and around tions when. lan electric current is closed i through the coil and the valve is opened to permit the fluidto absorb and carry away any heat generated in the electro-magnet.

2. A valve of the character described, comprising a casing having an inlet and an outlet connection formed therein, a valve member adapted to open and close communication between the same, a. solenoid magnet supported by thecasin'g and having a movable coremember mounted therein, a connection formed between the valve and the core, and means for vcirculating fluid through the core in one dirtion and around the core in .th when the valve is o 3. A valve of t e comprising a casin a vertically dis gravity closing v ve member contro the ilow of fluid therethrough, a solenoi magnet di above the valve, a verned.

character described tically disposed movable core in the magnet:

and connected with the valve member, and means for circulating 'nid throu'gh the core in one direction and around the'core in the opposite direction when the valve is opened. y 4. A valve of the chal-ader described comprisixgfa ',avertically' gravity osing'v ve .controlling the ow of fluid therethrough, a solenoid magnet above the valve, a verticall dis.

posed movable core inthe magnet an connected with the valveLsaidcore being none opposite direction lll ist

with which the valve normally engages andY through which a Huid may How when the valve isopened, and means for directing fluid from `the intake chamber upwardly around the core, then downwardly throu'gh the central passage formed in the core` and through the valve seat opening to the discharge chamber.

5. A valve of the character described, having an inlet chamber, a discharge chamber and a receiving chamber formed therein, a partition wall in the valve separating the receiving chamber and the discharge chamber, saidpartition wallv havin an openmg in the valve seat formed therein, a vertically disposed gravity seating valve extending through the receiving'chamber vand` the casing and normally engageable with the valve seat, a tube secured to the casing and extending vertically therefrom, said valve casing having a. passage lformed therein forming communication between the lower end ofthe tubel and the inlet cham'- ber, a core slidably mounted in the tube and connected with the valve, said core be-` ing non-circular shape in cross-section and having a central passage formed therein which extends from the upper end to a point which communicates `with the receiving chamber, a solenoid magnet coil surrounding the tube, and means forming ya closure for the upper end of the tube.

WILLIAM R. RAY. 

